CNA Programs in Idaho

CNA certification in Idaho requires completion of a state approved CNA training program and passing both a skills examination as well as a competency exam administered by Headmaster LLP. The first step is to find an approved program convenient for you. Approved Nurse Aide programs are offered at colleges, universities, technical schools and some high schools in Idaho. A select listing of approved programs can be found below as well as agencies to contact for programs specific to your area.

Approved CNA training programs will cover all the requirements set by the state to prepare a student for CNA certification. Some of the subjects addressed include communication and interpersonal skills, emergency preparedness and procedures, infection control, resident’s rights, comfort and caring for a patient when death is imminent, Alzheimer’s Disease and related cognitive disorders, CPR and other basic nursing skills training. Programs are required to be a minimum of 120 hours, of which 80 clock hours are spent on classroom instruction and 40 hours are spent in local health care facilities where students gain clinical experience interacting with patients and residents.

The Idaho Department of Labor Occupational Employment and Wages found that the median annual salary for a CNA and its related positions was $21,800 and the median hourly wage was $10.46. The Long-Term Occupational & Industry Projections done by the Idaho Department of Labor are projecting 35% job growth for the CNA and its related positions, which is quite impressive and a sign that this may be a very opportune time to be enrolling in CNA classes. According to CNA graduation and employment data, CNAs are finding work quickly if not immediately after gaining their certification. CNAs in Idaho are finding work in nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, extended care unit of hospitals, hospices, home health agencies, other long-term care facilities and as personal care providers.

Many of the communities in Idaho have found it challenging to address the health care demands of their citizens, especially the elderly. The CNA career path is one that has brought some light to the problem. Age distribution in Idaho, based on the 2000 Census data, shows a growing elderly population that will continue to increase in coming years, which means an even higher demand for the CNA. A CNA provides many of the skills needed by elderly patients in a variety of settings.

Another way the CNA and related positions are forecast to aid in meeting the health care demands of the citizens of Idaho is that the CNA position is often a stepping stone to nursing and other health care professions. Many CNAs continue their education to become Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurse. CNAs have also chosen to enter the management and administrative side of health where leaders are needed to help plan and develop the future of Idaho’s health care sector.

You may also be interested in the Medical Assisting programs in Idaho. You’ll find school, salary and career information for this rapidly growing field in the state of Idaho.

Find Approved CNA Training Programs in Idaho – Select Programs and Resources

(Sources: Idaho Division of Professional-Technical Education, Census Scope 2000, Idaho Department of Labor, Idaho State University, Idaho Division of Professional Technical Education, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Headmaster LLP)

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